What Happens When You Listen?

As the global community strives to develop robust professional networks and international collaboration, it is crucial that communication skills are up to par. We all know that there a multiple facets to what makes one a good communicator. Effective communication is required for success in all aspects of life, whether personal or professional. In this article, we are focusing on 5 benefits that will help you appreciate listening as a key component in communication.

Communication involves more than just what you say. It is an exchange of ideas and thoughts, not a one-man show. If you want people to listen to you, you need to first listen to them, attentively. This is called active listening. Be present at the moment and give the other party your undivided attention. This could mean putting your phone away during a conversation. Do not become so immersed in what you are saying that you overlook their vital comments, emotions, and responses.

Before you think about uttering anything in response, listen and process what they’re trying to communicate instead of planning your response. When both parties are involved in a conversation actively ( active listening & timely Speaking), communication is far more effective.

As I continue to grow as a professional in the speaking industry, I realise that in any given setup, listening is equally as important as speaking. Over the past five years, I have been standing in front of hundreds of people lecturing or coaching. These roles require strong communication skills, including the ability to articulate myself clearly and convey the intended message. 

Moreover, I also must listen to others and take feedback, criticism and complaints. It doesn't end there, in interaction with colleagues, teams, spouse, students, and family members, you must be an attentive listener. In simple terms, good listening is not only for speaking professionals. Everyone who intends to be an effective communicator and to establish great relationships must continually invest in enhancing their listening abilities. 

Most of us spend a lot of time developing our speaking skills and we abandon our listening skills. I believe this is because we have learnt and researched the importance of articulating ourselves. Hence we only focus on talking during conversations than listening.

According to John C. Maxwell's book 8 Pillars of Excellence, there are various reasons why you must prioritize attentiveness in every interaction.  Here are 5 ways in which actively listening to other people can position you better:

1. YOU BECOME A RESPECTABLE PERSON

Listening to people attentively makes them feel valued, seen and special. They believe that you are considerate of who they are, how they feel and what they think. Respecting you becomes effortless. If you are a good listener, people feel indebted to listening to you.  Being considered as someone who matters is a basic human need. Because when we feel that the person speaking to us values our time, understands our needs and considers our circumstances, we are a lot more likely to honour and respect them.

2. GAIN NEW INFORMATION AND IDEAS

Great leaders have mastered the art of paying attention to others. They understand that through listening to their subordinates, they may hear new information, and come up with great ideas that will profit their organisations or projects. Let us look at it from this angle, why do companies employ people? So that they can bring solutions, and communicate new ideas. Employers and leaders who are willing to practice active listening are most likely to implement great ideas. Those who are not practising active listening are at the doom of missing great ideas and great people.

You do not necessarily have to know everything, have 30 years of experience or generate new ideas. Ideas are from people. Only if you listened, you will realise that conversations carry information we need to make a difference.

3. ESTABLISH LONG-LASTING RELATIONSHIPS.

While many people excel at making new connections, keeping them going takes work for most. Being a good listener is an essential skill for building meaningful connections with others. Spending time with someone who always talks and never listens is frustrating. Relationship building requires not just talking to others but also listening to them. 

4. GAIN LOYALTY

Great listeners tend to attract loyal friends. Great brands retain customers through listening. There is nothing that chases people faster than not listening to them all the time. If you do not pay attention to what people are saying, they quickly find you a replacement. Unfortunately, this is a reality for most of us. We tend to realise very late why people leave, friends go away, why customers never return, and why our loved ones never call or visit us. IT'S A LISTENING PROBLEM!

In a situation where you are not a great listener, people resort to complaining about you than to you. Which one do you prefer? Having people complaining about you or directly to you? I would choose the latter simply because it would allow me to better myself and understand how to approach situations in the future. 

5. BECOME A PROBLEM SOLVER

Good listeners are also great at providing specific solutions. When people speak to you, don't be quick to respond. Allow them to finish talking then you can chip in. This will help you to identify the root cause of their problem. If you have clearly identified a problem, you can devise remedies to it.

Listening to the people around you, whether they be your clients, leaders, or coworkers, may serve as a quick lesson in how to maintain your competitive edge, establish long-term and loyal connections, and build strong communities. Your friends are providing you with particular tips on how to keep them interested in continuing to interact with you since they do it voluntarily. Are you listening or busy talking?